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Monday, October 5, 2015

Blog of the Week ~ an Update with Natasa Dolenc

This week we are very happy to feature the talented young poet Natasa Dolenc, who writes at Tales of Autumn. Natasa lives in a very scenic part of the world, Ljubljana, Slovenia. She has shared some wonderful photos and poems with us, so let's pour a cup of tea and prepare to be delightfully entertained.

Sherry: Natasa, fill us in on your life since our
interview in November
2013. How have you been?

Natasa: You know, it’s like everything is the same, but
everything changed, if you know what I mean :) I’ve spent two interesting years
since the last time we talked. Time sure puts a new perspective on things.

The
year 2014 had a few losses but also a few gains. For example, we lost our dog
Dina, but I published my second poetry book. At the moment I’m trying my best
to find a regular job at something that I feel is right for me.

I’ve taken
up running, so this year I went on three organized runs of 10 km. And I try
to run 3-4 times a week. The most km I ran at once was 12 km, and it was the
best run so far.

Sherry: Way to look good while running, kiddo!Natasa: And I've been studying. I’m very curious by nature, especially
if it has to do with preventive care and alternative medicine. Last time we
spoke I told you that I had IBS for years, and had thought it had developed into IBD... but I'm happy to report the colon looks good, but I have some food sensitivities. That's so much easier to live with! I’m trying my best to get to the root of the
problem and cure it. I’ve seen improvement so far, and I have tears in my eyes
when I think how much better I feel now. I did some travelling. Last year I
went to Ireland, which was a wish of mine for years, and I’d love to return and
see Scotland as well. That’s about it, in short :)

This church is in our village, Črni
Vrh, I can see it from my window. It is dedicated to saint Leonard. A church at
the site was first mentioned in 1526, reworked in 1758. The current structure
was built in 1899 after the earthquake of 1895, which
destroyed the previous structure.

Sherry: You have a beautiful view out your window, kiddo. I'm happy you are making progress with your health. And that you made it to Ireland. How wonderful! I am so sorry you lost Dina. And I also know you have the most adorable and beautiful
puppy. Introduce him to us, wont you?

Natasa: Yeah, he sure is a charmer :) He’s named after the
dog we lost last year, so we call him Dino. Also a karst shepherd, a stubborn
Slovenian breed ;) He’s so full of energy, it’s annoying sometimes :) and I
think he might have been a gardener in his previous life, ‘cause he has to nibble
on every flower he finds. Also has an appetite for fruits, he can find
blackberries in the forest. But when he feels lazy, only the cat can wake him
up ;)

Sherry: He is adorable, and I envy you him. You are a photographer and painter, as well as a
poet. Are you still painting? Is there anything you'd like to share?

Natasa: I do scribble in my notebook, but yes, I think I can find something ;) I haven’t been that
productive this year.

Sherry: Your work is beautiful, Natasa. The ship makes me want to sail away! You have produced two books. Tell us how you felt,
holding each one in your hand.

Natasa: First one was Colours of the sea, and I was so
frantically happy when I got it in my hands. You know.. first born. But when I got
the second one, I felt proud, like I’ve done something really good.

They are
available on all the Amazons and other online retailers. I was also surprised
when I found them on Book Depository. I always order books from there, because
they have free shipping, so I will include the links to there, but as I’ve
said, you can find them elsewhere as well (even in Kindle).

Sherry: They are wonderful, my friend. Good for you! Would you like to pick two or three of your poems
for us to enjoy, and tell us a bit about each one?

Natasa: This one was written as a prompt for The Magpie
Tales. I guess autumn has always been like a new beginning for me. I do seem to
think deeper thoughts than I would year round. There’s always good and bad and
all shades in between. It has to do with the way we see things. And the end is
pretty clear, something we should be reminded of.

Autumn in Madeira

“when
autumn wind blows

and
brings with it that familiar scent

I
pack my bags and move to my tree house

in
the shelter of tree trunks I create

a
village where my soul becomes alive again

I
put my thoughts on the leaves

and
watch them disappear

for
everything that is, perishes

I
know the world to be written in tragedies

but
beauty of life shines through them

in
all the seconds we get

we
can guess which one will be our last

which
one will bring change

and
in which one we will get lost

but
in one second your life can pass you by

and
it's up to you what you made out of it

divide
your days into the things

your
heart believes in

and
observe it grow”

Sherry: Those closing lines could not be more true.

Natasa: Another prompt :) The beginning started as a
reflection of how we end up with diseases... you have a problem, you look for a
quick fix, and then you run onwards, cause we make our lives so busy... it’s
really the society we live in. And for me there is nothing more comforting than
finding solace in nature, especially the late summer days when there is still
some warmth. And how many problems we face, because we alienate from the being
we were as a child. I’m reminded of a talk Dr. Gabor Mate gave, I’ve been
listening to him lately. He really has the whole perspective on health.

Late Summer

how
much of your life

has
been spent riding

on
a wild horse, 'cause

one
thing led to another

and
you never stopped

to
think and reflect

if
it's the right way

do
your lungs still breathe?

does
your heart know passion?

do
your feet touch the ground?

when
something fails

causes
you seek everywhere

but
you failed yourself first

stroke
the fields of grain

with
your hand and feel

how
the wind caresses everything

the
feet yearn to feel the earth

connection
to that old self they seek

and
lungs to find that limit of their ability

like
a child in foetus position

yearning
to feel home surrounding

in
the late summer you seek home

Sherry: I so love "In the late summer you seek home." As does every creature.

Natasa: And another one ;) I passed by an older man,
limping, but determined to get somewhere, and he was carrying some grass flowers
he picked up. It made me think who they were for, who does he still have in
life, and what they have been through together. It also made me wonder who will
I have in my life at his age... And what kind of attitude we have towards one
another... do we put them down or do we allow them to grow and shine in who
they are.

Let it grow

I
was in a hurry

following
the plan

not
to be late

as
I passed by an older man

limping,
slowly walking

from
his morning walk

through
the meadow

for
in his hands he held

a
bouquet of freshly picked

wild
flowers

.

it
made me wonder who they were for

who
in his life journey did he meet

to
care, to cherish

and
how many life battles

did
they undertake

not
to fear this war

through
little battles

we
write our stories

.

either
bleeding from the bruises left open

either
rejoicing in learning and carrying on

teaching
others how to dance

you
are the master of your tones

under
the skin is where we hide

.

do
we allow to be happy and just to be?

and
do we let others grow

do
we speak in a matter that allows

roses
to still grow as roses?

Sherry: There is so much wisdom in this poem, my friend.

In closing, is there anything you’d like to say to Poets
United?

Natasa: I haven’t visited that regularly this year, but I
do enjoy visiting and seeing new faces and reading your poems. It is a
wonderful and supportive community, and a lot of new ideas can be taken from it. I
do hope this will carry on the years to come. And I’ll see you there ;)

Sherry: We are always happy when our old friends pop up again in Mr Linky. Keep writing your way along, Natasa. Chart your journey. We will be most happy to read your poems and walk along with you.

Another lovely visit to a talented young poet , in a beautiful location. I truly have the best job in the world! Do come back and see who we talk to next. Here is a hint: It is Someone Very Special, and there will be Very Witchy Doings. 'Nuff said.

Hey, I have 'Endless Space..' on my shelf.Always good to see you when you do pop through Natasa.Your pups is very cute. We want to get a pups for the boys,but recently got a second kitten - who sounds like she sleepslike your pups does. Ha.

I am glad to hear that your health issues were just food sensitivities because that can be controlled. Best wishes.

Kittens and puppies can be raised together, X....just sayin'. LOL. Natasa, thank you for saying yes to an update. I always love hearing from you. The landscape where you live is incredibly beautiful. Wow. I cant get enough of it.

Really wonderful to read an update from you, Natasa. You certainly have been busy for the last years. And I am so glad to see you back at Poetry Pantry on occasion once again with your insightful poetry. Your new dog is certainly a beauty. Thanks for sending photos for the Pantry. They are ready to go for next week. Smiles. Keep writing AND running!

oh you live in paradise Natasa..such a beauty spot of our globe...so glad you're doing well now...it's always a pleasure to visit you for your beautiful and insightful lines...love the poems you shared here specially Late Summer...Thanks Sherry for another wonderful interview...

Such a bright an optimistic interview - the view is amazing from your window Natasa and i can see how it inspires your writing and spirit...good to catch up with you and learn more - and Dino - aww - he does look like a wilful little boy...which is good!

I do think the view from your window is like looking into a fairytale, Natasa. So beautiful. And I want to scoop your little furry puppy up and bring him home!!!!! He is adorable. I so enjoyed this visit with you. And am looking forward to reading many more of your poems.

Walt, I finally got to read the interview today and enjoyed it.Natasha is the most humble talented poet I know. I loved the poems you have shared here, Natasha. Your Dino is beautiful... actually, pawsome, Smiles. .An excellent article, Sherry, and thanks for revealing a bit more about one of the gifted poets in this community that inspires my creativity....

Sherry I love these interviews where you revisit...for me being only a year here, I get to see them for the first time. Natasa you have so many talents...congrats on the second book and oh my a painter as well. You are such a creative being. Enjoy that new pup!

Mighty fine interview, Ladies! "you are the master of your tones" (I love that!) You do so many arts, Nataša, and do them very well. I see we can look forward to more of your photos later this week--and I hope another poem too.

Natasa, great to learn a little bit more of you. i really like your poem,"Let it grow". there is indeed so much wisdom in it. we see a person holding a bouquet of flowers and we may wonder what is it for. i can relate to that. on the eve of my wedding day (a long time ago), i was holding a bunch of lilies in the train on my way home, and i can feel the other passengers looking at me (or maybe that's what i thought). :)

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